It is a myth that thrid world people, specifically our people in Sri Lanka think Europe or the west is a heaven and there is all the luxury found there. However, we can realize the situation there at europe, once we see the poor people at the streets, on the benches, in the railway stations, under the bridges, or along the corridors during the nights. Some people live with playing piano accordions, flutes, guitars or many other musical instruments. Some times we could see how the police treat them in the streets, railway stations once they want to sleep in the nights.
It is good to see the efforts of activist Jens Galschriot to high light the issues of homeless people in Europe visitng European parliamnet in mid april.
Here is the press release we got from APWLD and would like to add to my blog to high light this issue for those who willing to know this.
Herman Kumara,
12.04.10
Press release 10.04.2010
The artist and activist Jens Galschiøt (DK) joins the homeless organizations to put focus on the great number of homeless in Europe by visiting the European Parliament 12th to 16th April.
Galschiøt has created 13 big bronze sculptures of homeless people, all in natural size. These very heavy sculptures are by now on their way to the European Parliament to act as the start signal for a debate in all member countries about the conditions under which the homeless have to cope.
It has been a huge task to cast and create the many sculptures on which I have worked for two years. But they are intended to initiate a dialogue and put these problems on the agenda, and that makes it all worthwhile. I do not think that homelessness should exist anywhere in the EU, says Jens Galschiøt. Bronze sculptures are usually put up to honor kings and other important powerful persons. I have chosen to act the other way round and use the noble material and my art to tell the story of the back side of society and that way give voice to these people who are normally ignored.
Hearing in the EU on homelessness
In connection with the exhibition there will be a hearing where European politicians have a unique opportunity to learn about homelessness. The project UDENFOR (outside) and among others the Danish MEP Britta Thomsen (social democrat) in cooperation with the European umbrella FEANTSA will put focus on homelessness .
This takes place during a hearing in the European Parliament on Wednesday April the 14th which Britta Thomsen and a number of other MEPs will host. The hearing will lay forward the challenges to the European societies and present some relevant solutions to concrete problems. Present at the hearing will be Lászlo Andor EU Commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion, Philippe Courard, representative for the Belgian Government and Eric Marlier, independent expert. Former homeless will also attend the hearing to relate about their experiences and to contribute to find solutions for the future.
Tour de Europe
After the visit to the European Parliament the sculptures start on a great tour de Europe. A number of exhibitions in public places are intended to start up discussions about unemployment in cooperation with local organisations for the homeless. The following towns in Denmark are to be visited this spring, København, Odense, Aarhus, Aalborg.
The exhibition and the campaigns are implemented on the initiative of “Projekt UDENFOR “and the project can be followed on www.welcomehomeless.org
For more information
Free photos of the sculpture: www.aidoh.dk/EU-Homeless
The artist Jens Galschiøt tlf.: +45 6618 4058/ mobil +45 4044 7058
aidoh@aidoh.dk , Info Galschiot: www.aidoh.dk
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